Coach's chatter

[Emmet Kipengwe]

I posted this on another board. I'd like to get as much knowledge as I cn, so I'm posting it here, too.

Hi. I've read this board for a couple years as a coach and now I've become a referee. I've liked it so far, mostly as an AR. I had a couple situations Saturday that bothered me and I wondered if I could have handled them better.

1) Rec league, U-13/14 Boys, two whistle system. Yappy coach on my side. Constantly talking, saying "That's a push, handball, etc" whenever the other team did something. Oddly enough, he didn't say anything when his own team did anything. I finally called him away from his sideline and told him to quit. While I was tellng him, one of his teams parents came over and told me the other team was "way too aggressive!" I told him to go to the parking lot and the coach calmed down after that.
This is low-level soccer and I am thinking maybe some of the parents and coaches don't understand that contact occurs in soccer and every time a ball touches a hand, it's not a handball.
Should I have had a talk with the coach the instant he started with talking about fouls? The more I think about it, the more I think that I permitted it by not saying something about it right away. Maybe have a pregame chat with the coaches?

2) Doing an AR in a high level D-1 U-15 Girls game. I had the coaches' side. The team I was closest to had a coach that ran her yap the whole game. Sometimes shouting across the field at the CR, sometimes just explaing to her players how the CR had blown a call. Like I said, I'm new and was uncertain about telling her to stop it. At what point do you say enough? What is the AR's role in keeping the sideline griping down?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[Enge]

I do this as a coach, and it's just instinctive, not intentionally disrespectful. I think there is a line between, "hey, that's a foul" and "you're a f-ing ____." Most refs just ignore the coaches unless they something really disrespectful, rude, or vulgar.

The best line I ever heard was, "if you call out the fouls before I call them every time, it looks like I'm favoring you when I make a call your way."

That shut me up pretty fast! If the chatter bugs you, just say something up front. It's a game, it should be fun for everyone, even the refs. Another good line is, "the players can't play a perfect game, the coaches can't coach a perfect game, and until they can, you can't demand the refs to be perfect." Get the coaches thinking early about what's best for the kids, and most will keep things in hand.

You're asking about youth level, but I have an anecdote to good not to pass along. Last season, I got tickets in the first row at midfield for a Quakes game. I was close enough to the coaches to hear everything they said to the fourth official. Kinnear, the Quakes' coach, basically jabbered to him the whole game. Most of it was, "what about that one," or "come on, we should get that call," etc. The official had a lot of patience, and would say, "well, I think he saw it this way" or "no, here's what the call was." He always supported the ref. In contrast, the visiting coach would come over to protest occasionally, or to get a clarification if he did not understand a call.

It was all very friendly, until one of the visiting defenders ran one of the Quakes into the wall. If you're not familiar with Spartan Stadium, it has about a ten foot, concrete wall, which on the sidelines is about 4 feet from the field of play. Kinnear went nuts, and started screeching about the need to protect the players, that was ridiculous and dangerous, and so on. Doyle, the assistant coach, got Kinnear to come over to the bench, where he sat and sulked for a bit. Doyle then put his hand on the official's shoulder, and talked to him very calmly, saying Kinnear only wants to protect his players, and the refs need to look out for their safety.

It looked to me like it was all mind games. Kinnear was not just venting, he was trying to get things going his way. I thought Doyle taking over was a bit of good cop, bad cop. That is probably not the case with most hysterical youth coaches.

[refontherun]

Just keep in mind, the LOTG says that coaches are allowed to give tactical instructions to their players and nothing else. You decide where you want to draw the line on that.

We have a particular coach in my rec league who is very vocal. Shouting for fouls, and the like. Every time I do a game for his team I have to warn him. That's just the way some folks are.

We are in pointyball country after all.

[GKbenji]

A line I've taken to using lately... can be said with a grin, or an icy stare depending on the circumstance: "I appreciate the help, coach, but I think I can call the game myself." It seems to work reasonably well, and has the advantage of not being too confrontational (and even a bit humorous if you smile while you say it).

[PirateJohn]

A line I've taken to using lately... can be said with a grin, or an icy stare depending on the circumstance: "I appreciate the help, coach, but I think I can call the game myself." It seems to work reasonably well, and has the advantage of not being too confrontational (and even a bit humorous if you smile while you say it).Hmm, sounds like an invite to a nasty retort such as, "doesn't look like you can call it!" in which case the coach might end up looking for a good station on his car radio.

I found that after a few years' experience, I literally could no longer hear the yelling that was going on. Years of pretending to ignore comments ended up leading to me simply no longer hearing it. I didn't even realize this until I had just finished CR at a non-varsity intercollegiate match, and my linesmen came up to me and said, "how could you let that goalkeeper get away with yelling like that the whole time?" I didn't even know what they were talking about.

[Statesman]

Given that my hearing is going with my age, I'd like to think coaches don't complain about my refereeing. I know that is not the case but certainly would be wonderful!

The best tactic to take with coaches is the same we take with the game -- set the tone early and keep it simple. As soon as the coach starts yipping you tell him to knock it off. Humor to the point is typically best if you can come up with something.

I've asked a few if they were the coach or the color commentator.

To borrow a phrase, "nip it in the bud." Don't let too much commentary go or it will only get worse. Take care of it while you still have a cool head and the game is in the early stages, otherwise you might lose your cool and react negatively during a moment of pressure later on.

As others have said, the coach is there to provide tactical instruction to the players. Make sure that's all he does. Passionate outbursts are bound to happen and a natural reaction, but constant criticism should not be allowed.

[Wreave]

At a BU14 on Saturday, I was doing a brief pregame with one of the teams. After I concluded and asked for questions, the coach stepped up and told his team in no uncertain terms that if they said anything to the referee or the other team, he would take them out. Bold words for a guy who only had ten show up to the game!

Once during the game, one of his team didn't get a called when he was dispossessed (no foul that I saw), and he gave the arm-spread "are you kidding me?" without saying anything. The coach called him over to the sideline and warned him right then and there.

Funny thing, this coach complained about every call or non-call during the entire game. The last straw was when his forward was driving the ball down his sideline, being ridden by an opponent. The contact started fair, progressed to foul, but the attacker maintained possession and had no other defenders in front of him. Finally (a few second all told), the defender ran the attacker off the ball and I blew the whistle. The coach had been calling for a the foul from the first contact. I called him onto the field, and said, "Sir, you gave a great pregame speech to your kids. You need to set a good example." He shut up for the rest of the game...

[refontherun]

My usual retort to both coaches and spectators: "Thank you, but if I have any questions about a call, I'll come and ask." :D

[Wreave]

I was told about an experienced ref who got roped into a tournament final game for BU10. He started off addressing the sidelines, "Okay, who is going to help me call this game today?" He got a lot of laughter and a lot of hands, then proceeded to remind them of their role. I don't think he had any issues during the game.

Not sure if I could get away with that, but I'm keeping on file just in case...

[NHRef]

I have used the line "you coach, I will ref" successfully they seem to get the hint, also a simple "coach, that's enough" gets a message across.

I am more concerned about the coach who gets in my AR's ear but not out loud for me to hear. Especially with youth ARs.

[NHRef]

I have used the line "you coach, I will ref" successfully they seem to get the hint, also a simple "coach, that's enough" gets a message across.

I am more concerned about the coach who gets in my AR's ear but not out loud for me to hear. Especially with youth ARs.

Also, the coach who has non-stop chatter tends to get blocked out by his players as well. So when he has something important to say, it goes unheard.

[BC_Ref]

I am more concerned about the coach who gets in my AR's ear but not out loud for me to hear. Especially with youth ARs.


This is where you tell them to haul you over at a stoppage in the pregame. Because I agree, my tolerance for dissent from coaches has two levels. One for me and a much lower one if directed at my ARs.

[IASocFan]

...
I am more concerned about the coach who gets in my AR's ear but not out loud for me to hear. Especially with youth ARs.

This one snuck up on me this summer. I was doing the Iowa Games - an inclusive tournament that is low cost, high publicity, and lots teams and different sports. All the officials are volunteer. I volunteered because a friend who's coaching U10 asked me to.

Anyway, I was disappointed that I was doing U10 instead of a more challenging age group. First game, got two 15 years-olds for ARs. They were well positioned and one called a good foul right infront of him that I didn't see very well. Second game, got an adult that coached the first game and another reasonably competent adult for the lines. Third game, it's starting to warm up, and I have my two minutes time for a quick pregame and checkin of the next teams. I get a lady ref for the parents touchline who did a great job and a high school girl (in the Iowa Games tee-shirt) to take the coaches line. Quiet first half; I noticed that the girl on the coaches side was seldom in the right position and wasn't that comfortable (but it's u10 and she's a volunteer). Sometime during the second half, the coach by the AR asked her a question, and didn't like her response - something about a call I'd missed. He started getting on her, but I hadn't noticed a thing, but he wouldn't leave her alone. One of the tournament officials happened to be on the side line, so they had a better idea of what had happened. I think the tournament committed had a talk with the coach after the game. Unfortunately, I hadn't emphasized getting my attention if they have any trouble with coaches.

[phillips10]

The best line I ever heard was, "if you call out the fouls before I call them every time, it looks like I'm favoring you when I make a call your way."



this isnt a bad one, I do U-11 thru u-14s on sundays and HS games (mostly JV) midweek....and there is nothing worse then the guy that makes all the calls at the split second you are blowing the whistle. I may try this line early on soon...